Game Day Loaded Nachos

These Game Day Loaded Nachos are smothered in melted cheese and homemade chili sauce. They’re my most requested football appetizer every year.

It’s officially football season in our house, and my husband couldn’t be more excited. He has been counting down the days to kickoff for a month now. A month? Do you know how annoying that is? He’d randomly come to me and say, “You know what happens in 20 days?” And I’d respond, “Twenty days? Heck, I don’t even know what’s happening today?” I’d get the you-know-what-I’m-talking-about stare and he’d respond with, “Twenty more days until the first Raven’s game!” Normal people get excited for birthdays, holidays, or cake. Not my husband; he’s indifferent to all of that, but what he does get excited about is football, and he goes all out.

We live in Baltimore, so naturally, we’re Ravens fans. Let me repeat that last tidbit… Ravens fans! We bleed purple and black, we’re dedicated to our team, we cheer our guys on, we wear jerseys for Purple Friday, and we light the city purple when our team makes it to the playoffs. We’re hardcore!

Just a word of advice, do not ever mention that team with the black and gold uniforms in a Ravens household. It will not end well, and you may even get booted out of the house like Jazzy Jeff on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Now, this doesn’t mean we can’t be friends; it just means we can’t be friends on game day. And, I may not share my nachos with you. Just sayin’.

Let me explain just how hardcore we are. Our basement is decked out in all things Ravens: signed helmets, signed footballs, framed photos of players in action, bobble heads, neon signs, game day towels, a big foam finger, and a coin counting football (don’t ask, my husband had to have it). To top it all off, we have a 7 ft. tall purple Christmas tree, adorned with purple lights, purple feather boas, and ravens ornaments. A tree, people! If that’s not hardcore, than I don’t know what is.

We like to watch football and eat finger foods, so I made Game Day Loaded Nachos. These aren’t just any ordinary nachos. Nope. These nachos are special. Why, you ask? Because they’re smothered with my homemade chili sauce- a recipe that I’ve perfected over the years. It’s slap-yo-momma good!

The chili sauce only takes about 30 minutes to prepare, and it’s extremely versatile. Have leftovers? Do what we do, make chili dogs. People go nuts for chili dogs. You’ll blink and the chili sauce will be gone. Pinky swear.

Wanna know the great thing about loaded nachos? You get to top them with whatever you like. The options are limitless. We like ours with chili, cheese, salsa, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, and diced tomatoes.

I haven’t even told you the best part yet. You might want to sit down for this. I top my nachos with two different types of cheese. You heard right…two! I top them with a melted cheese sauce and shredded cheddar. It’s cheese heaven.

I love when the chips get all soggy. I grab a fork, scoop up the chips, and shovel these Game Day Loaded Nachos right into my mouth. So good!

Nachos

Tortilla chips

Queso cheese dip

Shredded cheddar

Salsa

Pickled jalapeños

Sour cream

Diced tomatoes

Directions:

In a medium-sized saucepan, add the first 15 ingredients. Mix ingredients to combine. Simmer on medium low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. Add the tomato paste and simmer for another 15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

Preheat the broiler.

Place desired amount of chips on a heat-proof platter. Add desired amount of chili sauce, queso, and salsa. Top with a handful of cheddar cheese. Place plate on a sheet pan and under the broiler just long enough for the cheese to melt, about 2 minutes. Top nachos with pickled jalapeños, sour cream, and diced tomatoes.

Okay, I may not be a Ravens fan, but I am in total agreement about that “team” you mention and hold them in probably the same regard that you do! ;) I LOVE your tree – that is majorly awesome! (And so are your nachos, by the way)

These look amazing, I hope to see a platter on the table when we watch the game at my house. I know how your husband loves to watch football with his mother-in-law :), You for forgot to mention Poe, yes Poe, the Baltimore Raven’s mascot also resides in the Raven’s nest thanks to Robbs loving Mother-in-Law. Go Ravens!

Mmmm…I’m down for loaded nachos like this anyday – they look mouthwatering! Although if we’re talking pro, I’d be there in a blue & white jersey (Colts!) ;P. I’m lovin’ that Christmas tree…it’s hilarious!

YUM! These are such a classic and delicious football tailgate recipe! Yours look AMAZING!!! I have to give these a try very soon! I have a feeling they will go scarfed up very quickly ;) Thank you for sharing!!

Yummy…love nachos! And I spy Central Market salsa in the background. Central Market is totally my favorite place to buy groceries…and only in Texas. I totally get your devotion…we’re the same way about the Texans! We even have our “lucky” Texans logo drinking cups that we ONLY use on game day…one of them is in my food picture this week!

Jen, you’re adorable in your jersey holding your mixing bowl & whisk! You guys are seriously hardcore – it’s like when people here in Vancouver get married and deck out their wedding in blue and green (our hockey team, the Vancouver Canucks’ colours!). You have no idea how much I love nachos – yours looks so incredibly delicious! I love that you made a chili to go on top and loaded it with two types of cheese – the meatier and cheesier the better in my opinion!

I am totally cracking up, that Christmas tree is awesome! You are serious football fans for sure:-) Nachos are my go to football dish, I could eat them all different ways! Your nachos look fantastic! Hugs, Terra

I would so not be welcome in your house on Sunday’s, chatting all the way through the game, your hubby would be giving me the death stare! However, if you served these nachos, I’m pretty sure my mouth would be shut and stuffed the entire time!

you. crack. me. UP. i was SO DEAD ON when i said in my “i stole your ice cream” post that i could totally picture as the girl who invites me to hang out on her couch. and watch football, it seems, along with some drop dead awesome nachos. i want those so bad it hurts. :)

in other news, i’m thrilled to know i’ll be footballing it up with you this season. You see, i don’t actually like our home team (Rams) so i typically go Bears (because i’m in love with brian urlacher) to get excited. What i really get excited about, though? football food. I start early in the week trying to think of things to make for Mr. Table. because although i like having it on in the background and listening to it, he really likes it, so i have to think of football food for both saturday and sunday. I feel like you’re going to have some really good ideas for fall weekends.

ps: i sometimes cheer for the Ravens. i have family in baltimore, and you have a good team with some sassy uniforms. I dig them.

Uh oh, I don’t think we can be friends on game days! We aren’t as crazy as you, but Murray does have a Steelers collar (and Penguins and Pirates). Will you still share your nachos? Or will I have to steal them when you are distracted by birds ;)

I have to admit to not being a football fan but you make me rethink my stance on it. It sounds like so much fun and your nachos look killer good. That tree is enough to make me pick a team. Are there any who wear pink? Yah, probably not right.

MK, I’m so glad you loved the nachos. It really brings me joy when someone makes my dish and loves it. The refs have been horrible this year. Apparently, the “real” refs are on strike, or something like that.

Thanks for sharing your recipe with this “black n gold” fan ;-) lol
And I can relate to the countdown. Here it is mid-feb. and we already can’t wait until training camp in July.
Congrats on the BIG “W”